Snatch-block.



G. W. RUSSELL.

SNATGH BLOCK.

APPLICATION FILED 111 3.19, 1909.

PatentedMay 9, 1911.

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SNA'ICI-I-IBLOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 9, 1911.

Application filed April 19, 1909. Serial No. 490,754.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLINTON W. RUssELL, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented cer-' tain new and useful Improvements in Snatch-Blocks, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates to snatch blocks more particularly designed for use in logging, and it is the object of the invention to facilitate the engagement or disengagement of the lines from the block.

It is the usual practice in logging to secure the blocks for the various lines to any suitably located supportsuch, for instance, as a tree. The block must first be securely attached to this support and then the line engaged therewith, which is frequently a diificult operation to perform. Heretofore snatch blocks have been constructed having a hinged frame portion permitting of opening for the insertion of the line laterally above the sheave, but with such constructions it is often a difiicult task to close the frame after the line is inserted. This is for the reason that the weight of the block is considerable, and when the frame is open, the point of the support being at one side of the central plane of the block, the latter will hang in a position where considerable force is necessary to close the frame. Furthermore, the weight of the line adds to the force required to close the frame.

With the present construction, the frame may be opened to permit the lateral insertion of the rope, but is not permitted to change the relative positions of the sections on opposite sides of the opening. Thus the closing may be performed without exertion.

In the drawingsFigure 1 is a front elevation of the block; Fig. 2 is a vertical cross section thereof.

My improved block comprises a frame having a rear plate A and a front plate B between which is arranged the sheave G journaled upon the pin D. The front and rear plates B and A are preferably formed of separate sections abutting against each other in the central plane of the sheave and secured by the bolts E and nuts F upon threaded ends of the pins D. The front plate above the sheave is divided into two sections, which are spaced from each other at sufiicient distances to provide clearance for the insertion of the rope. These spaced sections are connected together by a bridge section G which has a vertical portion G extending between separated lugs H upon the front plate and secured thereto. The section G also has the laterally-projecting filler block portions G which close the opening between the plate sections. The member G is preferably hinged to the lower lugs H by the hinge bolt I and at its upper end is detachably secured to the lugs H on the upper portion B of the plate by a detachable pin J.

The support for the block is formed by an eye K, which has a shank L swiveled between bearings M on the front and rear plates at the upper ends thereof and having a head N beneath these bearings. This eye K being arranged in the central planeof the block will permit the latter to always hang in vertical position.

lVith the construction as described in use the block is first attached to the support, after which the pin J is removed, and the section G turned downward to open the slot between the sections B B. As soon as the rope strand is inserted through this slot, the section G is again turned up and the pin J replaced, thereby effectually clamping the sections B and B, and relieving stress from the rear sect-ion A.

What I claim as my invention is:

A snatch block, comprising a sheave, a frame in which said sheave is j ournaled having a front plate formed of two spaced sections, a rear plate to which said front plate sections are detachably secured, the upper portion of said rear plate and one of the sec tions of said front plate having recesses section, and a filler block carried by said formed therein, comprising a bearing, a sup-o bridge member.

port for said block having a swiveled en- In testimony whereof I aflix my signature gagement with said bearing, spaced lugs in presence of two Witnesses.

upon each of the two sections of the front CLINTON W. RUSSELL. plate, a bridge member pivoted in the lugs of one of the sections and having a detachable engagement with the lugs of the other Witnesses NELLIE KINsELLA, B. J. BELKNAP.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

